Chapter 123
Katelina fidgeted in the chair, hyper aware of the eyes on her; the eyes of the vampires who'd put her on trial. It was bad enough that they questioned her motives, but now they were questioning Jorick's.
"Why did you link her?' Anya repeated, her eyes narrowed suspiciously.
Like Torina, Jorick didn't bother to stand. In fact his whole demeanor was too casual for Katelina's liking. "As if it's any of your business."
Fabian leapt on his non answer. "See? He doesn't want to tell us, and you know why. Think about it, he linked her right before he finally joined the war coven. Why did he join, anyway?"
Anya gazed at Jorick haughtily. "If I recall, he gave some story about being attacked by Adam and Nirel and claimed that they were doing Kateesha's bidding."
"And where's the proof?" Fabian demanded. "In light of the records, I admit he probably wasn't Kateesha's spy, but I still think he had other motives!"
Katelina suddenly forgot that she was the one on trial. "Like what?"
"That's what I want to know!" Fabian snapped. "Don't think I've forgotten what he did - or rather didn't do. Don't think I've forgotten Jesslynn." His eyes slid to Oren and he added coldly, "Just because some of us have."
Torina rolled her eyes. "And what does that have to do with this? I was as fond of Jesslynn as anyone, but she made her own fate."
Fabian rounded on her. "No you weren't. You're fond of Jorick, and we all know why."
Katelina shifted uncomfortably in the chair. No, they didn't all know, and she thought she might prefer it that way. She knew enough horrible things.
"Oh please." Torina blew her bangs out of her face with a puff of irritated air. "That was a long time ago, and it didn't mean anything." She leveled her gaze with Fabian's and gave him a sultry look full of innuendo. "You, of all people, should know how that works."
Katelina's stomach twisted and she clenched her hands into white knuckled fists. Her only consolation was that Oren looked as horrified as she did. "Enough of this," he declared quickly. "We've gotten off track."
"Yes," Jorick agreed. "And, since it seems to be so very important, I linked Katelina because she was dying, pure and simple."
Jeda tilted her head curiously. "Dying?"
"Yes," Jorick picked at some imaginary lint on his clothes. "Adam and Nirel took us by surprise, if you must know. Her injuries were extensive and it was a simple choice." He brought his eyes up and met Oren's. "And that's all there was to it."
Oren nodded. "There, Fabian, you have your reason, though I'm unclear what it has to do with this situation."
Despite the fact that it was Katelina's trial, the vampires forgot about her for the most part. They argued over whether Thomas was a spy, over whether Oren was really impartial, and every other topic under the sun. Katelina was relieved, however, that they didn't bring up Torina and Jorick's "meaningless" whatever it was. The idea bothered her, but somehow not nearly as much as the thought of Velnya. Torina was right, anything between the two of them would have been meaningless, but Velnya- he'd truly loved her.
Time dragged and she got thirsty and hungry. The chair was uncomfortable. She stretched her legs, rolled her neck, and generally tried to remind everyone she existed. Still the proceedings threatened to go on forever. So, when Micah stood up and demanded, "What the fuck does any of this shit have to with this?" she could almost have forgiven him for being such an ass.
Anya stopped, mid-sentence, and gave him a tough action-movie glare. "Excuse me?"
"I said, what the fuck does any of this shit have to do with whether we off the human or not? I'm fucking bored and these chairs are goddamn uncomfortable. Let's do the fucking vote and get on with life."
Oren glanced at Jorick from the corner of his eyes and then declared loudly, "Micah's right. We've heard enough to determine whether she should live or die. We'll take the vote now."
Kale, who had remained hitherto silent, cleared his throat loudly and stood. "I'm aware that we have no say in this, and consequently no vote, but if I had one, I would vote to let her live. No one's proved that her actions were anything other than an attempt to lash out at the person she thought had killed her lover. Who here wouldn't do that for the one they loved, consequences or no?" He glanced at Katelina and met her eyes for a second, then looked back at Oren. "Besides, even if you decide to kill her, what's to stop Jorick from appealing to The Guild? This could drag out into a painful mess that no one wants. Though, as I said, my vote doesn't count."
Jeda stood with a regal air, her head held high, as though she were the queen of the world. "No, but my vote does, and I agree. No one has shown that she acted maliciously, only irrationally."
"Fuckin-A," Micah nodded. "She's a psycho, but if we start butchering everyone for that then we're gonna be out of friends soon." He gave Fabian a particularly meaningful grin.
"I say kill her," Anya snapped. "And Jorick too."
Thomas stood. "I agree. Both of them should be punished."
"Let her live," Torina said dismissively. "As Kale said, it's more hassle than it's worth."
Loren nodded his agreement, his eyes on Torina and her low cut dress. "Right. It's not worth it."
"I say it is," Fabian seethed. "But, regardless, I can't side with traitors." He glared daggers at Anya and Thomas. "So I have to vote to let her live."
His words came as a surprise, however Des' vote didn't.
"Kill her," he said simply. He met Torina's furious gaze and his voice turned almost remorseful. "I'm sorry, but I think Anya's right. Jorick had this planned from the beginning and they should both be punished."
Torina snarled, but Oren looked relieved. "Even without my vote it's decided. But, I would agree that she shouldn't be killed for her actions." Despite his generous words, something in his tone suggested he felt otherwise. "And so it's finished. Since we've agreed that she's innocent, I see no need put Jorick on trial."
Micah raised his hand like a school kid. "Hey, I say we put Thomas on trial, and his not-so-innocent sister. I bet there's enough evidence to sink both of them."
Anya bristled. "Why do you have such a problem with us? Is it because you know I'm more of a man than you could ever hope to be?"
"Really?" Micah feigned surprise. "I always thought you looked like a tranny."
"You insolent pig!" She made to leap at him, but Des held her back.
"He's just trying to get a rise out of you."
"My brother will not stand trial before any of you, and that's final!" She spun to face Oren. "This is finished. The coven is broken, and I state here and now that Thomas and I are leaving first thing tomorrow evening. Anyone who wants to come with us is welcome to do so, but know that if you say one false word about my brother outside these walls, I will kill you myself."
Des laid his hands on her shoulders, oblivious to the shattered look on Torina's face. "Calm down, Anya. It isn't worth it." Then he addressed the others. "I'm leaving tomorrow with Anya and Thomas." His tone turned truly apologetic this time. "I'm sorry, Oren, but a few scraps of paper aren't enough to convince me. I understand your loyalty to him, though, and I hope there's no bad blood between us?"
Oren murmured a noncommittal answer, and Des accepted it. With a final nod, he steered Anya through the room and out the door. Thomas followed, a simpering smirk on his face, as though he'd gotten away with something and thought he was clever for it.
He'd just reached the door when Micah called after him loudly, "Pussy! Letting your sister fight your battles for you! I'm surprised you had the balls to double cross anyone."
Thomas stopped and turned around, that same self-satisfied smile reflected in his eyes. "You might be surprised what I have the balls to do. Why don't you ask Kale about that some time?" And then, with a soft laugh, he turned and left.
The attention shifted to Kale, but he refused to make a comment, and only his clenched jaw betrayed his anger.
Though no one had officially dismissed her, Katelina decided that she'd had enough of the chair. She limped across the room, her legs and hips in agony from hours of sitting, and tugged at Jorick's sleeve. He smiled down at her and slipped an arm around her waist. "I told you," he said quietly. "Though Fabian came as a surprise."
She nodded and then asked carefully, "So, now what?"
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